Draft rigging



March 3, 1936.

G. F. couc DRAFT RIGGING Filed May 26, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 3;1936. G F' COUCH 2,032,353 DRAFT RIGGING Filed May 26, 1933 4Sheets-Sheet 2 March 3, 1936. G. F. COUCH DRAFT RIGGING Filed May 26,1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 6 gmentoz Patented Mar. 3, 1936 PATENT OFFICEDRAFT RIGGING Glenn F. Couch, Rochester, N. Z, .assignor to TheSymington Company, New York, N. Y., a .cor-

poration of Maryland Application May 26, 1933, Serial No. 673,074

12 Claims. (CL 213-6) 'This invention relates to draft rigging and, moreparticularly, to the connection between a coupler and a railway vehicle,such as a locomotive, allowing for radial swinging of said coupler.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is theconnection of a coupler with a relatively short shank to a railwayvehicle in such a manner that it angles as if it was 19 swivelled abouta long radius, means being provided to minimize wear of the associatedparts.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a locomotive endcasting having a for- Wardly opening pocket or recess for receiving ele-13 ments for connecting an associated coupler thereto and permitting itto swing from side to side as if it were pivoted about a long radius.

A further object of my invention is the con- 0 nection of a coupler to alocomotive pilot beam #9 or endcasting in such a manner that it mayswing horizontally about a center disposed at a relatively greatdistance from the head of the coupler, rockers being employed totransmit the buffing forces from the coupler to the locomotive, wherebyexcessive sliding friction is minimized, and improved results obtained.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particulararrangement and construct-ion of the various parts will become apparentas the description proceedsl Referring to the drawings illustrating myinvention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended olaims:-

Figure l is a plan, with portions in horizontal section, of a locomotiveend casting with a coupler connected thereto and illustrating oneembodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the embodimentshown in Figure '1, the coupler being fragmentarily illustrated and a.portion shown in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan, with portions in horizontal section, ofa coupler connected to a locomotive pilot beam for radial swingingmovement with respect thereto, illustrating another embodiment of myinvention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View on the line 5-5 ofFigure l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional 55 View corresponding toFigure 4, but being on an enlarged scale, and illustrating the couplerwhen swung to one side from normal position.

Figure '7 is .a fragmentary front elevational view of the radialmechanism attached to the front face of a pilot beam, the stem of thecou- '5 pler being illustrated in section.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Figure 4, showing amodification.

In my previous application, Serial No. 606,254, filed April 19, 1932, Ihave disclosed mechanism for connecting a coupler to a locomotive pilotbeam, or the like, to allow for swinging ofa short shank coupler about along radius, said mechanism involving rocker means, the inner ends ofwhich were swivelled in sockets on a base casting, and the outer ends ofwhich were adapted to roll on a web of a radially swinging member. Thearrangement disclosed was for the purpose of devising the equivalent ofa long radius coupler which could be applied to the front of alocomotive. Such a construction was especially designed for pusherservice in which the pilot coupler is naturally displaced on curves aconsiderable extent horizontally from the center of the track, requiringthat when connected to the caboose coupler, or that of the rear car ofthe train being pushed, it must swing in the wrong direction to maintainproper face contact, in some instances, swinging further than theenclosing striking casting permits, resulting in derailment. Inaccordance with the present invention, an improvement in the mechanismhas been eflected, resulting in increased strength and reduction infriction between the parts and the wear resulting from such friction. 35

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by likereference characters, and first considering the embodiment of myinvention illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, there is shown an endcasting l adapted to be connected to the front end portion of alocomotive, and for that purpose desirably being generally rectangularin plan, but having notches 2 at the sides thereof adapted to receivethe front ends of the frames (not shown). For economy, the casting is soconstructed that no machining is required. The end or center casting Iis provided with a large cylindrical hole 3 adjacent the rear face, theaxis of said hole being normally vertical to adapt it from receiving theking pin of a "pony truck casting (not shown).

The combination disclosed involves a housing or base casting 4 connectedto the end casting I by means of a vertical pin 5, intersectinghorizontal webs 6 and l of the end casting l, and the 55 correspondingrear portion of the base casting 4, passing through cylindricalapertures 8 and 9 in the end casting, desirably positioned on orarranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of saidcasting, and II] in the base casting. For the purpose of receiving thebase casting 4 and the associated parts to be described, the end castingI is desirably provided with a forwardly opening pocket or recess II,desirably longitudinally alined with the king pin hole 3 or transverselycentered with respect to the casting I, and defined by the horizontalwalls or webs 6 and I, a transverse normally vertical, preferablygenerally flat, wall orweb I2, and vertical inwardly converging ordiagonal webs I3 and I4. As shown in Figure 1, the pocket is thusgenerally semi-hexagonal in plan, the rear wall or web I2 of which isdesirably reinforced by one or more vertical webs extending rearwardlytherefrom, as illustrated, and serves as an abutment for the rear web Iof the base casting 4, said web being enlarged at its central portion,as indicated at I6, to receive the pin 5, said pin being desirablyprevented from loss or undesired removal by means of a cotter IT, or thelike.

Received in the housing or base casting 4 is what may be termed a radialcasting or radially swinging member I8 as said casting is adapted tosupport toothed rollers or rockers I9, instead of pivoted toothedsectors, in rearwardly opening pockets 20 and the stub shank 2| of apilot or comotive front end coupler 22 in a forwardly opening pocket 23.In the present embodiment, each of the two rollers or rockers has frontand rear cylindrical rolling surfaces 24 and '25, respectively,desirably coaxial or substantially so, the front or outer surface 24rolling on the inner concave cylindrical surface 26 of the vertical webportion 21 of the radially swinging member I8, the engaging surfacesbeing desirably provided with intermeshing gear teeth 28 to maintain theparts in the correct transverse relationship.

The rear or inner surfaces 25 of the rollers or rockers I9 may engagecorresponding convex cylindrical surfaces, preferably coaxial with theinner surface 26, and formed on the base casting 4, if desired, However,it is deemed preferable to employ inserts or wear plates 29 disposed inpockets between the front face of the rear web I5 of the base member 4and the rear rocking surfaces 25 on the rollers or rockers I9, the frontfaces of said plates and the engaging faces of the rollers I9 beingprovided with intermeshing gear teeth 30, as illustrated particularly inFigure 1. The use of wear plates affords means for adjustments, and theinserts may be of a material harder than the associated parts tocompensate for the decreased effective bearing area between the convexsurfaces, as compared with that, at the front end of each roller,between a convex and a concave surface.

By letting the housing 4 project into the center casting I, as in thepresent embodiment, it is possible to mount the rollers or rockers I9closer together than the toothed sectors of the embodiments disclosed inmy previous application Serial No. 606,254, the pocket 23 being formedoutwardly of said rollers rather than between the sectors, therebyproviding a longer and stronger radial casting I8.

In order to mount the radial casting I8 in the base member 4, aconnecting pin or headless bolt 3| desirably extends vertically throughthe body portion of the radial member I8 with those protions of said pinabove and below said radial member having washers or wear members 32 and33 mounted thereon, the front sides of which are desirably cylindricallycurved about the center provided for the swinging of the radial casting,so that the upper washer 32, when the associated coupler 22 is subjectedto draft forces, is adapted to slide on the depending cylindrical flange34, and the lower washer 33 is adapted to slide on the upstandingcylindrical flange 35, thereby allowing for the radial movement of thecasting I8 and associated coupler 22 on draft, the rockers or rollers I9allowing for such radial movement on buff. The flanges 34 and 35, ofcourse, have rear or inner bearing surfaces curved about an axiscorresponding with the axis of the curved and toothed front wall or webportions 21 of the radial casting I8.

To provide for insertion and removal of the pin 3|, the upper web 36 ofthe base casting 4 is shown apertured, as indicated at 31, said aperturebeing normally closed by a cap 38 held in place, when the parts areassembled, by underlying the web 6 of the end casting I. In thepreferred embodiment illustrated, the washers 32 and 33 arecomparatively loose on the pin 3|, so that they may be inserted beforethe assembly of the radial casting I8 with the base casting 4, and thepin 3| simply dropped to position after assembly of the radial castingI8 with the base casting 4, but before connection of the base castingwith the end casting I. In order to allow for convenient removal of thepin 3|, a relatively small hole 39 is desirably provided in the lowerweb portion 40 of the base member 4, so that when the cap 38 is removed,the pin may be pushed out of the aperture 31 by a bar inserted in thehole 39. The lower web I of the end casting is desirably extended, asshown most clearly in Figure 2, to underly the outer portion of theswinging member 8 and prevent drooping.

The stem 2| of the coupler 2 is normally received in the forwardly openpocket 23 of the radial member I8 and connected thereto by means of avertical pin 4|, which extends through apertures 42 and 43 in the radialcasting I8 and a desirably bushed aperture 44 in the stem 2| of thecoupler, said pin being clesirably retained in place by resting on theextended portion of the web I and prevented from undesired upwardmovement by a cotter, or the like, 45 extending between lugs 46, onlyone of which is illustrated, positioned on opposite sides of theaperture 42. In order to allow for adjustment of the coupler height, thepocket 23 which receives the stem 2| is desirably tall enough to receiveone or more shims 41 which are disposed either above or below thecoupler stem in accordance with the height adjustment desired. Theextended portion of the web 1 is desirably formed with a small aperture48 functioning to facilitate removal of the pin 4| in a for verticaladjustment of said casting with respect to the beam I Inasmuch as thebase web l5 of the casting 4 in the present embodiment, when in thedesired position, extends below the bottom of the pilot "beam l anadapter casting 2 is desirably used to form an extension of the frontface of the pilot beam to receive the lower bolts 50 for securing thelower portion of the base casting 4 to the pilot beam I. Said adaptercasting is desirably connected to the pilot beam l by having its baseweb 53 connected to the lower web 54 of said pilot beam in an approvedmanner, as by means of bolts 55, as shown most clearly in Figures 4 and5. In order to avoid machining the adjacent surfaces of the webs 53 and54 of the-adapter casting or bracket 2 and the pilot beam lrespectively, said bolts may have enlarged collars or flanges 56 toserve as spacing washers or liners. A liner 51 may" also be positionedbetween the front face of the pilot beam I and the rear face of thehousing Received in the housing or base. casting 4* is what may betermed a radial casting or radially swinging member l8, said castinghaving rearwardly opening pockets receiving and supporting toothedrollers or rockers l9 and a forwardly' opening pocket 23 receiving thestub shank 2M of a pilot or locomotive front end coupler 22. In thepresent embodiment, each of the two rollers has front and rearcylindrical rolling surfaces 24 and 25 respectively, desirably coaxial,or substantially so, the front or outer surface 24 rolling on an innerconcave cylindrical surface 26 of the normally vertical. web portion 21of the radial swinging member I8 the engaging surfaces being desirablyprovided with intermeshing gear teeth 28', as in the previousembodiment.

The rear or inner surfaces 25* of the rollers l9 may engagecorresponding convex cylindrical surfaces preferably coaxial with theinner surfaces 26, and formed on the base casting 4', if desired.However, it is thought preferable to employ wear plates 29*, as in thepreceding embodiment,'disposed in pockets between the front face of theweb l5" and the rear rocking surfaces 25 the front faces of said platesand the engaging faces of the rollers l9 being provided withintermeshing gear teeth 30*.

In order to mount the coupler stem 2P in the radial casting I8 as wellas prevent undesired withdrawal of the radial casting from the basecasting 4 a connecting pin or headless bolt 3| desirably extendsvertically through the stem 2 I, which is preferably bushed, asindicated at H, and the upper and lower walls of the radial casting I8Those portions of the pin 3P- above and below the upper and lower websof the radial member l8 desirably have mounted thereon washers or wearmembers 32* and 33, the sides of which are desirably cylindricallycurved about the center provided for the swinging of the radialcasting,'so that the upper washer 32 is adapted to slide on thedepending cylindrical flange 34, and the lower washer 33 is adapted toslide on the upstanding cylindrical flange 35 of the base casting 4,thereby allowing for the radial movement of the coupler 22 on draft, itbeing understood that the rollers l9" allow for such radial movement onbuff, the axis of such radial movement being determined by the axis ofthe cylindrical surfaces 26. Of course, it will be understood that therear or bearing surfaces of the flanges 34 and 35 are curved about acenter or axis corresponding with thatof the rolling" surface 26 oftheradial casting [8.

To provide for insertion and removal of the pin M, the upper web 36 ofthe housing 4 is apertured, as indicated at 31*, said aperture beingnormally closed by a cap 38 held in place by the retaining or cottermeans 58 which passes through registering apertures in reinforcingflanges 59 disposed on opposite sides of the aperture 31. In a preferredembodiment, the washers 32 are comparatively loose on the pin 3| so thatthey may be inserted before the assembly of the radial casting I8 withthe base casting 4 and the pin 3P simply dropped to position afterassembly of the radial casting I8 with the base casting 4 In order toallow for convenient removal of the pin 31*, a relatively small hole 39is desirably provided in the lower web 40 of the base member 4*, so thatwhen the cap 38" is removed, the pin may be pushed out of the aperture3'1 by a bar inserted in the hole 39.

The lower web W of the housing 4 is desirably extended, as shown mostclearly in Figure 5, to underlie the head of the coupler 22' and preventor minimize drooping thereof. A wear plate 60 is desirably applied tosaid web 40 under the coupler head and secured to said web bycountersunk bolts GI and nuts 62.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figure8', there is shown a construction very similar to that of Figures 4 to'7, inclusive, involving a base member or housing 4 connected to a pilotbeam l and receiving a radially swinging member l8, including rollermembers I9", only fragmentary portions of which are shown. The innerends of the rollers l9 engage inserts or wear members 28 as in theprevious embodiment, a shim 63 being employed under each wear member 29and insertable from the rear to allow for adjustment while avoidingdisassembly of the coupler proper.

From the foregoing disclosure, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be seen that I have provided for the mounting of alocomotive coupler in such a manner that it may move horizontally inservice, as if it were pivoted about an axis disposed a relatively greatdistance rearwardly of the pilot beam or end casting of the associatedlocomotive or other vehicle, without weakening the beam or casting orinterfering with the normal front end structure of the vehicle by theprovision of an unusually long. shank on said coupler. By substitutingrollers for pivoted sectors, wear on the parts is minimized and improvedresults obtained.

Although preferred embodiments of my invention have been disclosed, itwill be understood that modifications may be made. within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

I claim:- 7

1. In combination with a railway vehicle, a housing connected thereto, acoupler supporting member supported by and adapted to swing from side toside in said housing, said member having rearwardly facing cylindricallyconcave bufling force-transmitting surfaces, cylindrical rollers theouter portions of which have rolling engagement with said concavesurfaces, means in said housing with cylindrically convex buflingforcetransmitting front faces with which the inner portions of saidrollers have rolling engagement, and means" providing for thetransmission of draft forces and connecting said member to said housing.

2. In combination with a railway vehicle, a

coupler with a stem received in said pocket and connected to' saidmember.

3. In combination, a locomotive end casting provided with a forwardlyopening recess, a base member with a rear portion received in saidrecess, a normally vertical pin intersecting said end casting and therear portion of said base member for connecting the latter thereto, aradially swinging member fitting in and movable with respect to saidbase member, said swinging member having a forwardly opening pocket, acoupler with its stem received in said pocket, a pin connecting saidstem and swinging member, and another pin intersecting said swingingmember and overlapping portions of the base member to retain the partsin assembled relation.

4. In combination, a locomotive end casting having a portion providedwith a forwardly opening recess defined by vertical rearwardlyconverging webs, a vertical transverse web, and vertically spacednormally horizontal webs connecting said converging and transverse webs,a base member comprising a rear wall normally engaging said transverseweb, and a bottom wall supported on the lower horizontal web, a normallyvertical pin intersecting the rear portion of said base member and saidhorizontal webs of the end casting, a radially swinging member fittingin said base. member, said swinging member having a rearwardly facingcylindrically curved surface, rockers with outer ends having rollingengagement with said curved surface, means in said base member withcylindrically curved front faces having rolling engagement with theinner ends of said rockers, a normally vertical pin con necting the rearportion of saidswingingmember to said base member, said swinging memberbeing formed with a forwardly opening pocket outwardly of said rockers,and'a coupler with a stem received in said pocket and connected to saidswinging member.

5. In combination, a locomotive pilot beam, a housing connected to thefront face thereof and formed with a forwardly opening recess, flangesextending toward one. another and providing inwardly extending shoulderspartly closing said recess, a swinging member extending into saidrecess, means connecting said member to said housing while allowing itto swing from side to side, rocker members seated in said recess, saidswinging member having rearwardly facing cylindrically concave surfaces,said rockers being formed with cylindrically convex front ends inrolling engagement with said surfaces, said housing also having meansproviding forwardly facing cylindrically convex surfaces, said rockersbeing formed with cylindrically convex rear ends having rollingengagement with said convex surfaces, said swinging member being formedwith a forwardly opening pocket, and a coupler with a stem"r'eceive'd insaid pocket and connected to' said swinging member.

.6. A locomotive end casting having upper and lower main webs and aforward portion provided with a forwardly opening recess defined by alower wall offset from said webs, the side walls of the recess beingformed by vertical rearwardly converging webs, the rear edge portions ofsaid webs being connected by a generally fiat vertical web, horizontallyextending webs uniting the upper and lower edges, respectively, of saidvertical webs, and a vertical reinforcing web extending rearwardly froman intermediate portion of said generally fiat web.

7. A substantially rectangular locomotive end casting having upper andlower main webs with an opening therethrough to receive a pony truckpivot and generally parallel side walls, the forward face of saidcasting being provided with a forwardly opening recessdefined byrearwardly converging side walls spaced inwardly of said parallel sidewalls and joined by a rear wall whose face is substantially parallel tothe front face of said casting, the. lower wall of said recess beingdisposed below said lower web and. extending outwardly beyond the frontface of said casting.

8. A locomotive end casting having main upper and lower walls, an endwall, a pair of side walls and a plurality of vertically extendinggenerally flat Webs disposed between. said side walls and connecting topand bottom walls of said casting, certain. of said vertically extendingwebs being angularly disposed with respect to the vertical longitudinalaxial plane of said casting, said angularly disposed webs forming theside walls and rear end wall of a recess in the front face of saidcasting, said recess being downwardly offset from said main upper andlower walls,

9. A locomotive end casting, the forward portion of which is of greaterdepth than the rear portion, a pair of horizontal webs forming the upperand lower walls of said forward portion, a third horizontally disposedweb offset from said first named webs and forming the bottom wall 'ofsaid rear portion, and a plurality of vertically extending websconnecting the top and bottom walls of said forward portion, certain ofsaid webs being arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis of saidcasting and forming the side walls of a rearwardly extending recessopening in the front face of said forward portion, one of saidvertically extending webs connecting the adjacent portions of saidinclined side walls, said forward portion being provided with acylindrical opening symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis ofsaid casting.

10. In combination, a locomotive end casting provided with a recess, abase member with a portion received in said recess, a connecting pinintersecting said casting and base member, a swinging member fitted inand movable with re-' spect to said base member, and a pin intersectingsaid swinging member and overlapping portions of the base member toretain the parts in assembled relation.

11. In combination, a locomotive pilot beam, a housing connected to theouter face'thereof and formed with an outwardly opening recess, flangesextending toward one another and providing shoulders partly closing saidrecess, a swinging member received in said recess, means connecting saidmember to said housing while allowing swinging thereof, rocker membersseated in said recess, said swinging member having rearwardly facingconcave surfaces, said rockers being formed with convex front outer endsin rolling engagement with said surfaces, said housing also having meansproviding forwardly facing convex surfaces, and said rockers beingformed with convex inner ends having rolling engagement with said convexsurfaces.

12. A locomotive end casting, the outer portion of which is of greaterdepth than the inner portion, a pair of horizontal webs forming upperand lower walls of said outer portion, a third web disposed in a planeintermediate said first-named webs and forming the bottom wall of theinner portion, and a plurality of vertically extending Webs formingwalls of an outwardly opening recess in said outer portion and one ofsaid webs connecting the top and bottom walls of said inner portion.

GLENN F. COUCH.

